Proportioned gas mixture and dispensing beer therewith



M. E. HOOD Dec. 7, 1954 PROPORTIONED GAS MIXTURE AND DISPENSING BEERTHEREWITH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 4, 1951 INVENTOR. BY II/yra/z E./iaaa/ M. E. HOOD Dec. 7, 1954 PROPORTIONED GAS MIXTURE AND DISPENSINGBEER THEREWITH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1951 INVENToR. Myra/z L'liana( BY w, r

ATT'rs United States Patent O PROPORTIONED GAS MIXTURE AND DISPENSINGBEER THEREWITH Myron E. Hood, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor of sixteen percent to Joseph M. Federika, Norwood, and eight per cent to Rose B. Guck,two per cent to Esther L. Sims, two per cent to Fred J. Kathman, Jr.,one per cent to Daniel Delany, one per cent to Elmer G. Fromme, one percent to J. Arthur Meinberg, one per cent to Ray Bigner, one per cent toCarl Lemperle, Jr., one per cent to J. W. Mathews, and one per cent toCharles C. Brown, all of Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 4, 1951,Serial No. 224,611

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-125) This invention relates to precisionproportioning of gases in gas mixtures and has for an object theprovision of apparatus of compact and relatively inexpensiveconstruction of general utility for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus o f this kindwhich is adapted to automatically and continuously'provide apredetermined known and accurately proportioned mixture of selectedgases so long as the supplies of the components are maintained above apredetermined minimum pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that isideally adapted to precision proportioning of known gases by theintroduction of fixed paired oritice elements in easily interchanged andidentified pairs which are selected according to the desired mixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method andmeans for handling draught beer in the tavern which affords aconsistently uniform satis faction to the patron and a consistentlyhigher money return, per barrel of beer dispensed, for the tavernkeeper.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a means of this kindfor the stated purpose wherein a minimum of time and attention arerequired of the tavern keeper after said means has been installed tosuit prevailing con ditions in the establishment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theclass described that permits the use of any suitable air compressorpreviously installed in the tavern but which apparatus is not dependentfor its accuracy upon the maintenance of a specific capacity in the aircompressor, and which apparatus will also permit the uninterrupteddispensing of beer in the event of the failure of either the compressoror the gas supply.

These and other important objects are attained by the means and methoddescribed herein and exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational View showing an embodiment of theapparatus of the invention operatively connected with pressure sourcesof gases to be proportioned, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l showing theconnections and control for one of the gases.

3 is a cross sectional View taken on line 3 3 of `Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l showing one of the pairedfixed orifice elements and the parts operatively connected thereto.

Heretofore proposed means for proportioning gases have been ofrelatively costly construction or they have left much to be desired fromthe standpoint of accuracy in practical use.

ln the devices of the present invention it has been found highlypractical and very economical to provide a device comprised ofinexpensive regulators modified and arranged in a novel cooperativerelationship with each other and adapted to utilize selected sets ofpaired xed orifice elements in a manner such that given gases arereliably mixed in precise proportions as an automatic function of theapparatus so long as the supplies of the component gases are madeavailable above a selected minimum pressure.

rrice By the means of the invention it is practical and highly protableto practice the herein described novel method of draft beer dispensingand control by incorporating the apparatus of the invention in anyapproved draft beer dispensing system. Hence it is a further object ofthe invention to provide at very reasonable cost an apparatus that iseasily incorporated in an existing system and then quickly andpermanently arranged to meet the particular conditions encountered insaid system as installed and operating in the particular location. Themethod and apparatus is completely advantageous to the manufacturer andinstaller and to the user as well, since it can be quickly installedafter a careful survey of the particular conditions of the system asoperating in the tavern at hand without necessity for tests oradjustment services thereafter, and since the tavern keeper is requiredonly to see to it that the pressure supplies of the components of hisdispensing pressure medium are maintained.

As illustrated in the acompanying drawings the apparatus of theinvention is arranged for wall mounting on a panel 10, at the lower endof which is secured a reser- Voir 11 for a supply ofv accuratelyproportioned gas mixture of several gases of known densities. On thepanel 10, above said reservoir, is a suitably mounted precisionproportioning apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 12. Theapparatus 12 is adapted to deliver the several independent gases inproportioned amounts into the opposite ends of a T or mixing chamber 13which has its center branch 14 connected to the inlet port 15 of anormally closed solenoid valve 16. A bottom outlet port 17 of said valvereceives an upright pipe 18 that projects upwardly out of the top of thereservoir and serves as an inlet for the tank and as a mounting standardfor valve 16.

Uniform tubes 19 and 20 are connected preferably by half-union and arenut connections 21 and 22 on the opposite ends of T 13 for leading theindividually proportioned gases from the apparatus 12.

A pressure controller 23 of known design is supported on and in pressurecommunication with reservoir 11 and may be set in known fashion toenergize the solenoid valve 16 for opening the latter when the pressureof the gas mixture in reservoir 11 drops to a predetermined minimum ofsay 40 lbs. per sq. inch, and to deenergize valve 16 for closing it whenthe pressure in said reservoir reaches a predetermined maximum, of say45 lbs. per sq. inch. An electrical connector box 24 is supported at itsopposite ends by connecting said ends to the casings of valve 16 andcontroller 23 respectively. An electric supply cord 25 is arranged atone end to be plugged into a suitable electrical outlet (not shown)While the other e'nd of cord 25 enters box 24 from the rear and isconnected therein in known manner with the control circuit wires, suchas W, for the solenoid valve 16 and the controller 23.

The pressure of the mixed gases in reservoir 11 is indicated by apressure gauge 26 supported thereon and in pressure communicationtherewith and is used to verify the pressure limit settings ofcontroller 23.

A manually set adjustable gas pressure regulator 27 controls thedelivery pressure of the gas mixture from the reservoir 11 and isprovided with a pressure gauge 28 Which indicates the adjusted outputpressure from said reservoir to a gas delivery tube 29 which leads to autilizing device (not shown) that may require the proportioned gasmixture at a selected pressure of say 3S lbs. per sq. inch for itsoperation.

I prefer in order to facilitate initial adjustments that .he regulator27 shall be of known type which will automatically vent and quicklyrelieve any Jexcess pressure in a line such as 29 that is connected withthe output side of the regulator and thus obviate having the gauge 28register an accumulated pressure instead of its adjusted deliverypressure in the event the regulator is adjusted backward to a lowerdelivery pressure. If desired an ordinary pressure regulator and apressure relief cock in tlie system may be substituted for the preferredform of regulator 27.

in the apparatus 12 at the top of the panel 10 is a centrally locatedmanually adjustable master gas pressure regulator 30, of the samepreferred type as the regulator 27, and the gauge 3l on the regulatorserves at all times to indicate the outlet pressure as adjusted by thesaid regulator. lnto the regulated pressure outlet Silit of the masterregulator 3@ is connected the center branch of a pipe T 32. The masterregulator 3i) has two opposed inlet ports and a pair of like checkvalves 33 and 34 are connected with said ports for admitting anon-return flow of two independent gases Which are mixed in undeterminedproportions in said regulator and pass through the regulator into T 32as' a fluid pressure medium at the pressure for which the masterregulator 39 has been manually adjusted and which desired pressure isindicated on gauge Si.

in the embodiment shown (Fig. l) the independent gases to beproportioned are air and carbon dioxide and the supplies thereof areprovided by a motor driven air compressor and tank unit 3S such as iscommonly used in taverns, and a commercially available tank of liquidCO2 36. These independent gases are directed at suitable pressures fromtheir sources 35 and 36 through check valves 37 and 38 into huidpressure adjustable gas pressure regulators 39 and respectively, thelatter being of like construction. Regulators 39 and lll are hereinvariously referred to as pressure adjustable, or pressure adjusted gaspressure regulators to distinguish this special type of regulator fromthe commonly known manually adjustable gas pressure regulators. As amatter of economy these regulators may be a simply and easily modiliedform of an inexpensive commercially available gas pressure regulatorwith the bonnet adapted to have a tube such as 4i and i2 connectedthereto instead of the well known pressure spring and adjusting screwsuch, for example, as used in the master regulator 30. The tubes 4l and42 serve to connect the opposite ends of T 32 with the pressure tightinteriors of the bonnets of regulators 39 and itl respectively so thatboth of said regulators will be always simultaneously adjusted toidentical pressures as established by the setting of master regulatorSil. in this way I have eliminated all possibility of error in securingabsolutely equal adjusted pressure output of independent gases throughregulators 39 and d@ and no gauges nor pressure springs of possibleinequality of response are involved.

The regulators 39 and 4t) each have an unregulated bypass port fromwhich. the pressures of the independent gases are directed through checkvalves 33 and 3d respectively into the opposed intake ports of themaster regulator 30.

The independent gas sources 35 and 36 are arranged close to panel itland are subjected to the same atmospheric temperature conditions and thegases, as supplied therefrom to the opposite sides of proportioninUapparatus 12 may be safely assumed to be at equal or substantially equaltemperatures. rli`hese independent gases at assumed equal temperatureare directed at equal pressures to the outlet ports of the respectiveregulators 39 and iti from whence they are to be directed through tubesi9 and Ztl into a common mixing chamber or T i3 which is connected tothe normally closed solenoid valve 16. Therefore any pressure drop isuniform for each of the independent gases when they are allowed to flowthrough mixing chamber 13 and valve lr6 into reservoir lll. Moreover thedensities of the independent selected gases to be mixed are known or canbe determined.

ln order to enable a precise calculation of the action of the gasesaccording to accepted equations relating to the gas laws, I arrange, bymeans of paired t'ixed oriiice elements 43 and 44, to cause the gases toeiiuse therethrough from the regulators 39 and di) into tubes 19 and 2@at a rate that is slow enough to avoid appreciable cooling of the gases.

The sets of iixed paired oriiice elements 43 and 44!- form an importantfeature in the combination hereinbefore described. They aresuperticially identical and can be interchangeably introduced into theapparatus by screwing one end of each into the respective outlets ofregulators 39 and lil while the remaining ends are connected with tubesi9 and Ztl by means such as flare nuts 45. The individual element ofeach pair, such as 43 and 44, has a precision drilled orifice ofselected size that is related to the orilice in the companion element insaid pair, according to calculations under the gas laws so that volumesof gases of known densities passing therethrough during the identicaltime period will be in known proportions to each other and hence themixture of the gases will be of precise and known proportions. As anexample if the orifices in elements 43 and 44 are of equal area and CO2,with a density of 0.0019768 and air, with a density of 0.0012928 areeifused through them in the apparatus under the conditions of assumedequal temperatures (and without cooling) and subject to equal pressuresbefore said orifices and iiow into a common mixing tank it will be foundby mathematical calculation that the amount of CO2 delivered into themixture will be 44.7l2% of the total mixture and the air delivered intothe mixture will be 55.288% of the same total mixture during any givenperiod of time. By computations the specific and unequal orice areas forvarious other sets of iixed paired oriiice elements may be determinedfor yielding other wanted percentage proportioned mixtures of the samegases by the apparatus.

The calculations as required for two speciiic gases may prove ponderousand ill suited to use by iield installers of the devices particularlywhere the several factors in the particular use may differ appreciablyfrom each other in some cases, and only slightly in other cases. lnorder to expedite the process of selection of the proper set of iixedpaired orifice elements to the existing conditions at hand it ispreferred that all of the calculations for covering the complete rangeof probable requirements of percentage proportioned mixtures of speciiicpairs of known gases may be carefully made and examined and then groupedwhere negligible differences are permissible and thus provide a basisfor producing a corresponding reduced number of different sets of fixedpaired orifice elements. The results may be charted under simplifiedidentification numbers for both elements in a given set as a iieldworking chart or table. The elements themselves may be properly drilledwith standard and special drills as required and both elements of theset clearly identilied by the number indicated in the chart or table,and the individual elements of the set are further identitied as to thegas to be eifused therethrough to expedite correct installation in theapparatus.

In this process of simplification for iield use it is frequently foundthat tooling costs may be reduced by careful attention to the groupingof permissible orifice sizes to enable the employment of standard drillsizes to the greatest extent. This is made possible by the fact that theeiiectiveness of the apparatus is dependent on the proportionaterelation of the orifice sizes in a given pair of elements rather than ona specically designated size of orifice area in each of them.

The detailed construction of the parts may be varied, within reasonablelimits, from those illustrated but it has' been found practical inadapting the proportioning apparatus of the invention to the improvedmethod of dispensing draught beer, to utilize as the air pressure sourcethe existing air compressor assembly in the tavern in which the improvedmethod is to be practiced. Such an air pressure source usually comprisesan air pressure tank 46 with a motor driven compressor 47 mountedthereon and an electrical control 48 responsive to the pressure in thetank 46 for starting the motor .19 when the tank pressure reaches apredetermined minimum of say 55 lbs. per sq. inch and for deenergizingthe motor when the compressor has built up the tank pressure to aselected maximum of say lbs. per sq. inch. The motor 49 thus operates atrelatively infrequent intervals. The air intake pipe 50 may be extendeddesired in order to secure the purest and cleanest air available in theenvirons of the tavern and the end of said pipe is desirably downturnedandprovided with a dust strainer 5i. to preclude the entry of dustparticles and to avoid the intake of moisture to the best advantage. Theair tank 46 preferably has a pipe T 52 connected to its outlet port anda pressure gauge 53 is connected to the upturned center branch of said Tfor indicating the actual pressure in said tank. Another pipe T 54 hasits center branch connected with one end of T 52. An air iilter 5S ofthe activated carbon type, connected at its lower end with the upturnedend of the T 54, serves to filter, deodorize and largely purify air fromtank and a moisture trap 56 is connected with the downturued leg of T S4and is' equipped with a suitable drain cock 57.

An air supply line 58 leads from the air lilter to the check valve 37and has a suitably mounted strainer 59 therein (see Fig. 2).

The CO2 supply 36 includes the usual steel tank 60 containing liquidcarbon dioxide which supplies the CO2 gas to a conventional pressurereducing 'valve 61 of the adjustable type and provided with a pressureindicating gauge 62 for the gas' delivered at say 65 lbs. per sq. inchthrough suitable means such as a ilexible hose 63 to the check valve 38through another strainer (not shown) similar to strainer 59 (Fig. 2) inthe air line.

Reference is now made lto Fig. 2 for detailed consideration of one ofthe two substantially similar arrangements of parts that are connectedwith opposed intake ports of the master regulator 30 to the respectivegas supply lines with gas-tight connections. As illustrated the airsupply line 58 with flared end has a flare nut 64 thereon for connectionwith one end of a half union member 65-66 supported in the strainermember 59. Member 65-66 has a male SAE threaded and seated edd 65 whichreceives the flared end of line 58 and the flare nut 64. Strainer member59 contains a wire cloth element 590, and has a female pipe threaded end67, that receives the pipe threaded end 66 of the half union member, anda male pipe threaded end 68. A check valve assembly 37 comprises an end370 with a female threaded inlet 69 which has the pipe threaded end 68of part 59 secured therein. An externally standard 1%" pipe threadedbody 70 on part 370 has a reduced. bore 71 of 36 diameter, approximatelythe diameter of the passage for air through the reduced bores of halfunion 6566 and strainer member 59 and said bore 71 extends through thereduced end 72 which is annularly undercut on the external periphery forreceiving a well known type of Thomas vent 73. The end part 370 with theThomas vent 73 mounted thereon is screwed into thev hollow 3%" standardpipe threaded interior of an exteriorly polygonal retainer sleeve 74,which has a pipe threaded male projection 75 that is screwed into theinlet port of regulator 39 and has a passage 76 of the same reduceddiameter as bore 71 in end 370. It will be noted after the rubber Thomasvent 73 has been expanded and seated over the part 72 of end 370, thesaid member 73 will contract at its base to allow the assembled parts toenter snugly into the retainer sleeve 74 as end 370 is screwed tightlytherein. The Thomas vent is thus circumferentially restrained againstexpansion under sudden pressure surges and hence cannot under anycircumstances be displaced as otherwise often happens with thisdesirable elastic element.

Into the by-pass outlet port 77 of regulator 39 is screwed a check valveassembly 33 comprising an end 330 which is a modied form of end 370 andhas a projecting male pipe threaded inlet part 78 instead of femalethreaded inlet part 69 and said end 330 cooperates in the manner justdescribed with another of the retainer sleeves 74 which has the maleextension 75 thereof threaded directlyinto one of theopposed intakeports 79 of the master regulator 30. The Thomas vent in :heck valve 33is shown in a different radially adjusted position from thecorresponding element in check valve 37 in the interest of disclosureonly.

The simple conversion of the Huid pressure adjustable gas pressureregulators 39 and 40 from commonlv available manually adjustableregulators will be readily un- :lerstood from an inspection of Fig. 2wherein the bonnet B0 of the regulator is shown to have the usualpressure djusting spring and the externally operable adiusting screwremoved and a pipe elbow 81 (or any other fitting) screwed into the borethat normally takes the adjusting screw. It will thus be appreciatedthat the pressure regulating-valve element 82 is responsive to thepressure introduced into the bonnet and acting on diaphragm 83 whichcarries said valve element 82. The bonnet 80 is imperforate andgastight.

It is to be noted that the master regulator 30 is of known commerciallyavailable type and has a vent hole B4 in the bonnet 85 thereof and ableeder bore 86 through the center of its valve element 820. Thisregulator employs a pressure spring 87 and an adjusting screw B8 similarto those used in this and other types of manually adjustable gaspressure regulators. v

In Fig. 4 there is shown partly in cross section, one of the members 44of the pair or set of paired fixed arice elements 43-44. These are ofspecial design and all.` elements for all sets are cheaply produced inquantity save for the drilling of the s'elected precision orice 89 whichis formed, according to specilication, in the originally closed thin endwall 90 of the male pipe threaded end 91 that is screwed into theadjusted pressure outlet port 92 of the pressure adjustable gas pressureregulator 40. The element 44 has an intermediate hexagonal shoulder 93and its oppos'ite end 94 is formed to provide a thread and a male flareseat in knovisi fashion to cooperate with the pipe 20 and flare nut Thefixed orifice in each element, such as 43 or 44, is drilled to providean orice area which, during operation of the apparatus, will etfuse adesired proportional volume of a gas of known density into mixture withanother gas of known density that eftuses through the xed orice area ofa companion element during an identical time interval in which saidcompanion orice area will deliver its' own desired proportional volumeof said other gas. The orifice areas in any given pair of elements areof selected size-relation and the dimensions may be increased ordecreased, so long as the sizerelationship is maintained, withoutchanging the proportions of the gases in the mixture. The dimensions areselected as small as feasible for the required rate of supply of themixture. The employment of a reservoir such as 11 is imperative becauseit provides a means for supplying a required minimum pressure dropbeyond the paired xed orifices to assure accurate results.

The aforementioned size-relationships of the orifices of diiferent pairsof elements may include equal orifice areas in several actual dimensionsfor a selected percentage of proportioned mixture of stated gases to bedelivered in mixture at selected minimum rates. The size-relationshipsmay include unequal orice areas of Varying size-relationships to providevarious known mixtures in which the percentage proportions of the gasesare varied as required. When a different pair of gases is to be mixed bythe apparatus the selection of paired orices will be made aftercomputations are made on the basis of the known densities and theproportional volumes required for each gas in the desired mixture.

From the foregoing it will be understood that any two gases of knowndensities (which do not act chemically on each other) may be mixed inknown percentage proportions, using a unit of apparatus as described andone properly selected pair of xed orifice elements. Before a detailedreview of the operation of the unit, it may be pointed out thatpercentage proportioned mixtures of more than two gases may be effectedby employing additional units of the invention. To mix three gases, twoof the gases may be proportionally mixed in one unit of the apparatusand the resultant mixture (at suitable pressure) may be entered at oneside of a second unit while the third gas will be entered at theremaining side of said second unit. When four known gases are to beproportionally mixed, two of said gases may be mixed in suitableproportions by means of one unit of the apparatus, while the remainingtwo of said gases are mixed in a second unit. Then the mixtures fromboth units are proportionally mixed by means of a third unit. As analternative mode of mixing four gases, two of said gases may be mixed ina rst unit, then the product mixture of said first unit may oe mixedwith a third gas by means of a second unit and iinally the mixture fromthe second unit may be mixed with a fourth gas by using a third unitofthe apparatus. In every instance the unit referred to will have itsown complete arrangement of elements including its own reservoir foraccumulating the gas mixture and delivering it at regulated pressure.

The operation of the apparatus, after selecting the two gases to bemixed in stated proportions and inserting the properly chosen pair ofxed orice elements, is as follows. Assuming the gases are air and CO2,and the delivery pressure of a selected mixture thereof through the pipe29 is required to be maintained at a constant 38 lbs. per sq. inch,gauge pressure reading, the apparatus and gas supplies would be set asfollows. The pressure controller 23 would be adjusted to open valve 16when gauge 26 indicates a pressure of 4() lbs. per sq. inch, and toclose valve 16 when said gauge 26 indicates a pressure of 45 lbs. persq. inch in the reservoir 11. The master regulator would be set toregister 50 lbs. per sq. inch. The air supply unit 35 l motor 49 whenthe pressure -in tank 46 drops to-55 lbsi.

i pressure 'of' the master regulator 30 while the other and will stopthe motor at an arbitrarily selected .pressure i.

of 75 lbs. per sq. inch according tothe reading on gauge 53. Theregulator 61 for the CO2 cylinder 60 would be set to equal a meanbetween the high and low pressures of the air supply which in thisexample would.l

be 65 lbs. per sq. inch gauge reading on gauge 62. The air and gassupplies 3S and 36 are located in the same room and close to theapparatus so that both of the gases assume room temperature and assumedequal temperature. intake S1 located in the outside atmosphere haveshown no appreciable change in results and this is apparently due to thefact that in passing through the compressor and into mixture with air intank 46 at'room temperature and then through the line 58, the air aswell as the CO2 supply, entering check valves 37 and 38 respectively,are close enough to equal temperatures for practical purposes.

When the connections have been made and the regulated supplies of thegases adjusted the pressure air through line 58 and check valve 37 willbe delivered into the iiuid pressure adjustable regulator 39 at apressure between 55 and 75 lbspper sq. inch, and will also be by-passedat the same pressure throughregulator 39 and Tests made in summer andwinter with an.

gas supply is continued at above the said adjusted pressure,

then the latter gas alone may be supplied by its regulator check valve33 and delivered into one side of the master regulator 35). r1`he CO2 isdelivered at an adjusted pressure of 65 lbs. per sq. inch by regulator61 as indicated on gauge 62 and passes through check valve 38 into uidpressure adjusted regulator 40, and is also by-passed therefrom andthrough check valve 34 into the opposite side of master regulator inwhich the two gases, viz air ad CO2 mix in some undetermined proportionsto provide a regulatable pressure fluid medium at the higher of thepressures as delivered by the independent supply sources and 36 andreceived in said master regulator 3i?. The check valves 33 and 34preclude return flow so that the individual gases are not mixed duetounequal pressures of their respective supplies. Assuming the reservoir11 to have atmospheric pressure therein when the device is installed,the gauge 26 will indicate Zero pressure and pressure controller 23whenproperly energized will hold solenoid valve 16 open. Since there is nopressure flow from reservoir 11 to line 29 and the latter is presumed tobe initially vented to atmosphere the gauge 2S will also indicate zero.Gauge 53 will indicate the accumulated pressure in air tank 46.

The master regulator 30 is now adjusted until the gauge 31 indicates 50lbs. per sq. inch (gauge reading) which is less than the lower of thetwo gas supplies and thereupon the undetermined mixture of the gasesflows as a iiuid pressure adjusting medium at a pressure of 50 lbs. persq. inch into T 32 and from opposite ends of the latter, through thetubes 41 and 42 into the bonnets of the gas pressure regulators 39 and4i) where this pressure acts on the diaphragms such as 83 (Fig. 2) sothat both of said regulators are uniformly and simultaneously adjustedaccording to the adjusted pressure setting of the master regulator 30.

The individual gases, viz air and CO2 will then be delivered at equalpressure of 50 lbs. per sq. inch to the top or orilice ends of the fixedpaired orifice elements 43 and 44 respectively and will effuse throughthe selected orifices into the equal tubes 19 and 20 respectively andfrom thence into opposite ends of mixing T of chamber 13. The mixtureaccording to the percentage proportioning operation of the apparatus nowflows through tube 14 into the inlet 15 of the now open solenoid valve16 and through it into reservoir 11. This iiow of accuratelyproportioned gas mixture continues until the accumulated pressurethereof in reservoir 11 reaches 45 lbs. per sq. inch gauge reading onindicator 26 at which time the controller 23 will deenergize thesolenoid valve and allow it to close automatically, if said controller23 has been properly adjusted. When valve 16 is closed the regulatedpressure of 50 lbs. for the air may pass from regulator 39 through theorifice element 43, tube 19, T 13, tube 2t) and up to regulator 40.Under the same condition the CO2 may similarly reach but will not Vpassthe regulator 39. Since the gases in the tubes 19 and 20 have beenproportioned the diffusion of the gases even after a long period of timewill in nowise affect the proportions of the mixture when it is latercharged into the reservoir.

It is to be noted however that if one of the independent gas pressuresources fails or falls below the adjusted 39 or 40 and the reservoir 11may ultimately deliver the n single gas to pipe 29 at the adjustedpressure of regulator 27. Such an emergency allows a selected pressureto be continuedwithout the benefit of a specific selected proportionalmixture of gases until the deficiency or y difficulty with a gas supplyis remedied and is particularly valuable as a stand-by adjusted pressuresource for the draught beer dispensing method of my inventionhereinafter described.

Method of dispensing draught beer The beer dispensing method of thepresent invention presupposes proper refrigeration temperatures for beerstored in cooperage and serves to maintain draught beer in saidcooperage after thecooperage is tapped, in the original line conditionwhich it had when sealed in the cooperage at the brewery so that eachglass of beer drawn therefrom is perfect from the standpoint of tasteand appearance regardless of how long the said cooperage remains on tapbefore it is completely emptied. ln maintaining the beer in its originalcondition until the tapped cooperage is finally emptied by the method ofthe invention, the gas proportioning apparatus as described hereinbeforeis preferably used although other means for accurately proportioninggases may be used if the high cost of other precision apparatus isignored.

In carrying out the method of the invention, the combination of theindividual factors of precooler temperatures, and temperatures which thebeer may acquire in the beer lines and proper dispensing pressure mustbe taken into consideration and from them an accurate determination mustbe made of the requirements for retaining, in solution in the beer, theoriginal amount of CO2 that was introduced into the beer at the breweryto provide the desired characteristics in the beer.

These original characteristics may be lost in many ways after thecooperage is tapped at the tavern although they are retained in thesealed cooperage if handled in approved manncr. Since the aforesaidcharacteristics of the dispensing equipmentr may vary in differenttaverns, the initial preparation for the practice of the improved methodof this invention should be carefully carried out and thereafteruniformly maintained.

The invention consists essentially in matching the interna] pressurefrom the original average volume of CO2 in solution in the beer with alike pressure of CO2 gas on top of the beer in the tapped cooperageunder the particular temperature conditions prevailing in the precoolerin the tavern at hand and supplementing the pressure of the CO2 gas Withair pressure sufficient to provide a proper dispensing pressure for theparticular installation. These factors are resolved into a predeterminedmixture of CO2 and air applied to the top of the beer in the cooperageat a determined dispensing pressure from the time the cooperage istapped until it is completely emptied. The per cent of CO2 required inthe pressure dispensing medium depends on storage temperature anddispensing pressure of the beer being dispensed.

Under these conditions it has been found that beer dispensed by theglass will always be uniformly ne as judged by taste and appearance anda barrel or other cooperage unit will yield a greater number of glassesof beer when dispensed according to the improved method in a giventavern than a similar barrel could yield in the same tavern beforeadopting the method although the same dispensing equipment (excludingthe accurate gas proportioning apparatus) was used. The result can beaccounted for in a comparative cash return average per barrel before andafter the practice of the invention.

It is to be understood that it has been heretofore proposed to mix COzand air in some generalized attempt at securing a general proportion foruniversal use as a pressure dispensing medium for draught beer, and alsothat air pressure alone or CO2 gas pressure alone have been used todispense beer. ln nearly all such practices there has been resultantdeterioration from the original line quality of the beer, either in thecooperage or in the beer lines or in both, due to the fact that theoriginal CO2 content of the beer was not maintained constant throughoutthe entire dispensing system during the entire period of dispensing eachcooperage unit from the time of tapping until emptied. Thus it hasfollowed that'beer has long been dispensed with inferior, or depreciatedquality and with accompanying tapping losses due to w1ld beer, flatbeer, and/or discarded tail end beer. These evils have been generallyaccepted by the tavern keeper as unavoidable, and often without hisrealization of their existence.

In preparation for adopting the improved method of dispensing draughtbeer to a given dispensing apparatus in a given tavern, a survey is madeof the conditions prevailing there. First, the average precoolertemperature for storage of beer in cooperage is determined, then afterdetermining the highest temperature in the beer lines or faucets and thetotal vertical lift for the beer as measured from the bottom of thecooperage to the highest point in said lines or faucets, a correctminimum dispensing pressure is calculated and adopted. This correctminimum dispensing pressure is the sum of two calculated pressurefactors. The first factor is the pressure required for the totalvertical lift of the beer in the system at hand. The second factor isthe calculated pressure required to retain the CO2 content in 'the beerin the warmest point in the lines against separation from the beer atthat point. As a matter of good practice the high temperature point inthe lines or faucets should not exceed 60 F. and if it does thecondition should be corrected. If the existing dispensing pressure isless than the calculated correct minimum dispensing pressure, thencorrections must be made to permit the use of a higher dispensingpressure.

Where an excessively high dispensing pressure is found in use in a giveninstallation where the method is to be adapted it is usually found thatfaulty installation has made it necessary to adopt said excessively highdispensing pressure to cover up the fault, and a generally inexpensivecorrection'of the fault will permit a lower and safer dispensingpressure to be used. Exceedingly high dispensing pressures should beavoided because they are unnecessary; dangerous to the person who tapsthe cooperage; too hard on equipment, such as beer lines, flares,connections, taps, faucets and wood cooperage; and they make itunnecessarily difficult to hold pressure completely in cooperage withoutloss at base of tap, at the bung, or through wood cooperage itself.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for percentage proportioning of gases in a mixturecomprising a pair of pressure adjusted gas pressure regulators, amanually adjusted gas pressure regulator connected for delivering theadjusted output pressure therefrom equally to said pair of regulatorsfor adjusting the latter, check valves leading into the respectiveregulators of said pair of regulators, other check valves providingby-pass connections respectively from said pressure adjusted regulatorsinto said manually adjusted regulator, a pair of fixed orifice elementsremovably mounted one in the outlet port of each of said pressureadjusted regulators, a T member having a center outlet port, a valveconnected to said port, a pair of uniform tubes extending from opposedends of said T, and means on the free ends of'said tubes removablyconnecting said ends severally to the respective orifice elements.

2. In a gas proportioning apparatus the combination of a pair ofpressure adjustable gas pressure regulators each having an adjustingpressure inlet port, a pressure gas inlet port, a pressure gas by-passport, and a regulated pressure outlet port, a selected pair of xedorifice elements having size-related orifice areas, said elementsremovably and replaceably connected one in the regulated pressure outletport of each of said regulators, a pair of uniform tubes each adapted atone end for removable connection with one of the said elements, a 'I'having the remainingends of said tubes connected at opposite endsthereof, a valve controlling discharge from the T midway its ends, apair of check valves connected one into the pressure gas inlet port ofeach of said regulators, a manually adjusted gas pressure regulatorhaving a pair of opposed pressure inlet ports, a pair of check valvesconnecting the pressure gas by-pass ports of the pair of regulators withthe opposed pressure inlet ports of the manually adjusted regulator, auniformly branched connection between the output port of the lastmentioned regulator and the adjusting pressure inlet ports of said pairof regulators, and means for connecting the first pair of check valvesseverally with independent sources of gases of known densities atassumed equal temperature, said selected pair of orifice elements havingthe orifice areas of computed sizes according to the known densities ofthe gases and wanted proportions of each in a mixture.

3. Gas proportioning apparatus comprising a pair of fluid pressureadjustable gas pressure regulators, mdcpendent sources of gases of knowndensities at assumed equal temperatures connected independently fordelivering non-return supplies of the respective gases one to each ofsaid regulators at pressures above a selected common minimum, manuallyadjustable means for delivering uid pressure simultaneously and equallyto both of said regulators, a selected pair of fixed orifice membersremovably connected one in the outlet port of each regulator whereby theseveral gases are supplied to the orifice members at equal pressures andequal temperatures, a T constituting a mixlng chamber having an outletintermediate its ends, a valve on said T controlling said outlet, a pairof uniform tubes connected one to each of the opposed ends of the T,means on the remaining ends of said tubes for connecting the tubesindividually with the several orifice elements, and a pressure gauge onsaid manually adjustable means for indicating the delivery fluidpressure thereof.

4. Gas proportioning apparatus comprising two fluid pressure adjustablegas pressure regulators, two independent sources of gases of knowndensities at assumed equal temperatures connected severally to therespective regulators, a manually adjustable gas pressure regulator,means providing non-return by-pass connection of each of said tworegulators with said manual regulator, a pressure gauge indicating theregulated output pressure of said manually adjusted regulator, a uniformbranched connection directing the output pressure of the last namedregulator as a pressure fluid to the two first mentioned regulators forequal adjustment thereof, selected paired fixed orifice elementsremovably mounted one in the output orifice of each of said firstmentioned two regulators, a pair of uniform tubes removably connectedone to each of said orifice elements, a T comprising a mixing chamberhaving remaining ends of said tubes connected respectively with theopposite ends of said chamber and having an outlet midway the ends ofsaid chamber, a reservoir connected with said outlet, a valvecontrolling communication of said chamber outlet with said reservoir, apressure controller for the valve and actuated in known manner forclosing and opening the valve according to selected high and lowpressure limits in said reservoir.

5. In a gas proportioning apparatus the combination of a pair of fluidpressure adjustable gas pressure regulators, separate sources of gasesof known densities at assumed equal temperatures and above a commonminimum pressure, means connecting the several sources for non-returnflow, one to each of said regulators, manually adjusted means includinga pressure gauge for delivering a fluid atY adjusted pressuresimultaneously toboth of said regulators for adjusting them, a selectedpair of fixed orifice elements removably connected one in the pressureoutput port of each of said regulators for receiving the several gasesrespectively at equal temperatures and equal pressures, a T having anoutlet mtermediate its ends, a valve controlling said outlet, removableconnecting means for connecting said orifice elements respectively withopposed ends of said T whereby said gases are permitted to effusethrough the orifice elements with an equal drop in pressure and,

to enter .said T, the valve being adapted. for opening and closing forproviding equal intervals for effusion of the respective gases throughthe several orifice elements, the areas of the respective orifices insaid elements being size-related one to the other on the basis of theindividual densities of the respective gases and the effusion thereofthrough the specific orifice areas under equal conditions oftemperature, time and pressure differential before and after saidorifices.

6. In a percentage proportioning gas mixing apparatus the combinationwith a selected pair of independent sources of gases of known densitiesand assumed equal temperatures, of a pair of pressure regulators eachconnected for receiving a non-return ow of one of the gases, means, forsimultaneously and equally adjusting both of said regulators, paired xedorifice elements removably mounted one in each of said regulators, a Tcomprising a mixing chamber with a valve controlled center outlet andmeans for effecting removable connection between the several orificeelements and the opposite ends of said T, the opening and closing ofsaid outlet by the valve defining a common flow interval for both gasesat equal temperatures, equal pressures and equal pressure drops throughthe several orice elements, the areas of the respective orifices beingof computed size-related areas determined on the basis of the knowndensity of each gas and the required proportion thereof in a mixture ofsaid gases and the stated equal conditions for both gases.

7. The draught beer dispensing method which includes the step ofemploying, as an unchanging dispensing pressure medium constantly actingon top of beer of known CO2 content in tapped cooperage in a giveninstallation of an approved beer dispensing system, an individuallysuited pressure of an individually suited mixture of CO2 and air,wherein the pressure is calculated to preclude separation of originalCO2 from the beer in the warmest part of the beer lines of said systemand deliver beer in a true liquid condition from the open beer faucetsof the system at proper ow rate, and wherein the percentage proportionof CO2 in said dispensing medium provides a pressure of CO2 whichmatches the calculated internal pressure of the known volume of CO2 insolution in the beer when the tapped beer in cooperage in the system isat the average temperature of beer storage in said given system.

8. The method of dispensing draught beer from tapped cooperage in agiven installation of a draught beer dispensing system which comprisespredetermining a correct minimum dispensing pressure for said system todeliver beer in a true liquid state at suitable speed from the tappedcooperage in said system through the open beer faucets thereof,determining the internal pressure in the beer exerted by the knownamount of CO2 in said beer when it is at the average storage temperatureof tapped cooperage in said system and then constantly supplying to thetop of said tapped beer in cooperage in said system, at not less thansaid predetermined pressure, a predetermined percentage proportionedmixture of air and CO2 gas in which the CO2 gas per se exerts a pressurematching the said determined internal pressure in the beer in the tappedcooperage in said given system.

9. The draught beer dispensing method which includes the step ofemploying in a selected installation of a draught beer dispensingsystem, at a determined correct minimum dispensing pressure for saidsystem, a dispensing pressure medium of air and CO2 gas of calculatedproportional volumes in a mixture thereof, in which mixture the pressureof the CO2 will match the internal pressure exerted in the beer, at theprevailing average storage temperature of tapped cooperage in saidsystem, by a known original amount of CO2 in the beer on tap incooperage in said system.

10. The method of dispensing draught beer into the glass in primecondition from tapped cooperage in a given installation of a draughtbeer dispensing system during an indeterminate time interval required toempty the cooper* age unit, which comprises determining a correctminimum dispensing pressure for the system to lift beer from the tappedcooperage to the open faucets of the system at a satisfactory dispensingflow rate and to prevent separation of CO2 from the beer in the warmestpart of the beer lines and faucets of said system, then determining apressure of CO2 gas required to act on the surface of heer of known CO2content in tapped cooperage in the system for matching the internalpressure due to the said known CO2 content of said beer when the latteris at the average storage temperature for tapped beer in cooperage insaid system, and finally applying continuously, at not less than thedetermined correct dispensing pressure, a selected per centageproportioned mixture of CO2 and air on top of the tapped beer, saidselected mixture containing a percentage volume of CO2 to equal andmatch the said known internal pressure of CO2 and a percentage volume ofair to supply the difference in pressure between that of the CO2 in themixture and the determined correct dispensing pressure.

1l. The draught beer dispensing method which comprises the step oforiginally determining, fora given installation of a draught beerdispensing system, a correct minimum dispensing pressure on the basis ofthe temperature of the warmest point in the beer lines and faucets insaid system and the required vertical lift of beer from tapped cooperagein the system through said beer lines and faucets, then determining acorrect actual dispensing pressure for said system exceeding the saidminimum pressure sufficiently to assure adequate rate of beer ilowsimultaneously through all faucets in said system, originallydetermining the internal pressure in beer, at the average storagetemperature of beer in tapped cooperage, due to known content of CO2 inthe beer and thereafter constantly supplying to the top of beer intapped cooperage, at the said correct actual dispensing pressure, aselected correct dispensing medium consisting of a percentage volume ofCO2 to provide proper CO2 pressure to match the aforementioneddetermined internal pressure in the beer and a percentage volume of airto supply the difference in pressure between the said CO2 pressure andthe said correct actual dispensing pressure.

l2. The method which comprises originally determining for a giveninstallation of a draught beer dispensing system, a correct actualdispensing pressure for said system, originally determining the averagestorage temperature of beer in tapped cooperage in said system, thenpredetermining a percentage volume of CO2 in mixture with air, whereinthe CO2 alone will exert a pressure matching the internal pressure ofbeer containing a known amount of CO2, when the beer is at said averagestorage temperature, and thenceforth constantly supplying the mixture sodetermined at the determined correct actual dispensing pressure as abeer dispensing pressure medium in said system.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNarne Date 1,818,895 Klotz Aug. 11, 1931 2,168,059 Buttner Aug. l, 19392,320,969 Kremer et al. June 1, 1943 2,569,378 Hood Sept. 25, 19512,580,516 Chapplow Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date9,436 Great Britain May 13, 1895

